Quoted By:
<span class="mu-b">You didn’t need a loan. You knew what your parents wanted to hear, of course–not that they’d ever stop joking about costs and logistics–but you had a plan: one that didn’t involve student loans, froofy universities, or any sort of fancy-schmancy roll of paper and a pat on the ass.
All of that? It wasn’t you. It <span class="mu-i">isn’t</span> you.
You’re not your sister… and you never would be.</span>
Two rows of razor-sharp teeth dig into your hand and rouse you from waxing nostalgic! OW!
“FOCUS, would you!?” Toppel snarls in a squeaky, but still menacing tone! “The entrance is dead ahead. Don’t draw any unnecessary suspicion!”
Her orange eyes flit over to her beaked brother. “Obber, heel.”
The afterglow of your flashback digs a pit in your stomach as you pass by more student clusters milling about the fountain. Some chat, others show off some spells, and some even spare you a searching glance as you pass by… like dogs spotting a squirrel in the back yard.
Y’know, you remark as you duck below the sound of a spell popping and crackling far above your head, these kids seem pretty well-adjusted… didn’t they say it encourages-
“Eliminating the competition?” Toppel interjects, her tail dragging along the ground like a wilting fern, “It does. Don’t be fooled, and definitely don’t take a smile at face value. This is a battlefield,” She hisses as a familiar Chytree trio pass by laughing amongst themselves, “And even the teachers are targets, so step lively.”
Just like High School, you mutter as you approach the front entrance and slam face-first into a thick wooden door!
<span class="mu-r">STUBBED TOE COUNTER: 27!</span>
BWOOF!
Rebounding off of the polished portal like a basketball, you’re still dazed when a flock of students exits the building just to your left! W-wait, you sputter as you stagger towards them and the presumably-opened door like a zombie, p-<span class="mu-i">please!!!</span>
“Nice one, idiot.” Snickers the Durher as she watches you miss your window with unfiltered glee, “You need a <span class="mu-s">TOKEN</span> to get in. Student, Staff. Doesn’t matter.”
They… must have a lot of problems with lost keys and people getting locked out, you meekly ask as you rummage around in your pockets for <span class="mu-s">VOLKIR’S TOKEN.</span>
“They <span class="mu-i">don’t</span>. Now hurry up and open the blasted door before we start to stick out.”
You press the token against the door’s surface. You uh… you <span class="mu-i">do</span> stick out th-
“<span class="mu-i">SHHH!!!</span>”
>CONTD.
